Baked Cookie Cake From a Box
A cookie cake is a delicious way to get your sweet fix without the stress of baking from scratch. Just whip up a cake mix, add some extra ingredients and bake!
Let the butter come to room temperature, as this will help you achieve a fluffy batter.
Use your favorite flavored cake mix, keeping in mind that different flavors will lead to slightly different textures.
Cake
When you’re running short on time or energy, there are few things easier and quicker than turning a box of cake mix into a cookie cake. The recipe is simple enough to let kids help and gives you a treat that looks like a cake but bakes in the oven just like a cookie.
Whether you use a chocolate, vanilla or red velvet cake mix, the result is a moist and chewy dessert that can be dressed up for any occasion. Try it topped with sprinkles for a fun and festive touch or add a layer of canned frosting to make a dessert that’s sure to be crowd-pleaser at a birthday party, bake sale or family gathering.
To make the cookies, preheat the oven and grease a cake pan with cooking spray or a light smear of butter. Mix the cake mix, oil and eggs until a thick dough forms. Then stir in the mix-ins of your choice. The dough is sticky, so we suggest using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to form the dough into balls.
While the cookies are baking, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Add milk and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. If you’d like a frosting with more structure, beat in a few drops of yellow food coloring. When the cookie cake is cool, spread the frosting across the top and top with rainbow sprinkles to serve.
Frosting
You can top this cookie cake with a classic buttercream frosting or try out some other fun variations. We used a vanilla Baked Cookie Cake Box buttercream in our recipe but you could also use chocolate or even strawberry buttercream. We suggest using a finely powdered sugar so the frosting is smooth and not grainy.
You’ll also want to make sure that your ingredients are at room temperature before mixing them together. This helps everything blend well without overworking the dough which can lead to a dry and crumbly cookie cake. You can even freeze this dessert ahead of time. Simply thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
To make this cake mix cookie cake, add a box of your favorite cake mix and 2 large eggs to a mixing bowl. Then stir the ingredients until a thick batter forms. Stir in any desired mix-ins and then drop spoonfuls of the batter onto a baking sheet. I used a springform pan here for the ease of removing the finished cookie from the oven, but you can also use a regular round cake pan or pie plate lined with parchment paper.
Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once cool, remove the sides of the pan and serve. You can also store this mini jewelry gift box cake (unfrosted) in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To freeze, wrap in saran wrap and then place in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Decorations
It’s up to you how you want to decorate your cookie cake. Sprinkles are always a good choice, but edible glitter or gold dust adds a little extra sparkle. You can also use candy like stars, unicorns or gummy bears, or buy cake toppers that match your party theme. Whatever you choose, make sure it is food safe and will not melt in the oven.
You can also use piping gel to write messages on your cookie cake. “Happy Birthday” is a classic, but there are plenty of other sentiments that you can pipe on too. You can even turn this into a baking project with the kids and let them choose their own message to pipe.
To create a themed cookie cake, try adding a border with a star tip or a shell tip, and scatter coordinating sprinkles over the frosting. You can also create a number on the middle of your cookie cake using a circle tip and black frosting.
To serve, simply pull the cookies out of the pan and onto a flat plate or platter. Depending on the size of your cookie cake, you may need to cut a slice for each guest. It’s best to do this while the cookie cakes are still warm, so that they are easy to cut and soft in the center.
Serving
Add a box of cake mix, eggs, oil and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine until a thick dough forms. Stir in any desired mix-ins. For example, you could add a cup of white chocolate chips or chopped nuts to the cookie batter or try a funfetti cake mix and sprinkles. The options are endless!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 11.5″ metal round pan or a DIY foil cookie cake pan with cooking spray or a small smear of butter. Line the bottom of the pan with a sheet of parchment paper and lightly grease that too.
Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Leave about an inch of space between the cookies to allow for proper baking.
Bake until the tops are golden brown and the bottom of the pan is lightly browned. The center will still be soft but the edges will be slightly browned and firm. Let the cake cool before removing from the pan to a flat serving platter or cutting board.
While the cookie cake is cooling prepare the frosting. In a medium mixing bowl beat powdered sugar, butter and vanilla until fluffy. If you want a more decorative frosting, spoon the frosting into a piping bag or freezer ziplock bag with a star tip and pipe onto the top of the cake. Top with rainbow sprinkles and enjoy!
